Composite Roofing — Synthetic Slate and Shake for Hinsdale, Oak Brook, Lemont and DuPage County
The Look of Slate or Cedar, Without the Weight or the Maintenance
Adept Construction, Inc. installs and repairs composite roofing — molded polymer shingles made to look like natural slate or cedar shake — across DuPage County, most often on the larger homes in Hinsdale, Oak Brook, Lemont, Oak Park, Burr Ridge and the estate sections of Naperville and Downers Grove. A composite roof weighs a quarter of natural slate, needs no reinforced framing, does not split, curl or grow moss the way cedar does, and carries a 50-year manufacturer warranty on most products. It is the system we recommend when a homeowner is replacing an aging slate or cedar roof and wants the same appearance back. Illinois roofing license No. 104.011123, Owens Corning Preferred Contractor, since 1997. Request an estimate.
What Composite Roofing Is
Composite roofing is a shingle or tile molded from polymer resin — sometimes with recycled rubber or plastic — cast from real slate and cedar so the surface texture matches. It installs like an asphalt shingle, nailed to the deck over standard underlayment, at 300 to 400 pounds per square instead of slate’s 800 to 1,500. Most products carry a Class A fire rating, a Class 4 impact rating — the highest hail rating, which some Illinois insurers discount for — and a 50-year limited warranty. The main brands are DaVinci, Brava and CeDUR; we tell you which we are quoting and why.
Composite Slate and Composite Shake — Repair, Replacement and New Installation
Adept Construction replaces aging cedar shake and natural slate roofs with composite, installs composite on new construction and additions, and repairs cracked or displaced composite tiles on existing roofs. Every job starts with a written, itemized estimate. See roof replacement and roof repair.
Why Hinsdale and Oak Brook Homeowners Choose Composite
The estate homes in Hinsdale, Oak Brook, Burr Ridge and Lemont were built with slate or cedar because the architecture calls for it, and many are now on their second or third roof. Natural slate replacement is the most expensive roof there is and needs framing that can carry it; cedar has to be treated, cleaned and re-sealed and rarely lasts past 25 years in this climate.
Composite gives the same profile from the street at a fraction of slate’s weight and cost and none of cedar’s upkeep, and it is one of the few roofs that gets better on the insurance side: the Class 4 impact rating is the highest hail rating a roof can carry. Village architectural review boards in Hinsdale and Oak Brook accept composite slate and shake on homes where the original material was required — confirm with the village for a specific address.
Composite Roofing Performance
- 300–400 lb per square — a quarter of slate; no reinforced framing needed Class 4 impact rating (highest hail rating) and Class A fire rating on most products 50-year limited warranty; no splitting, curling, moss or re-sealing
- They can withstand a wide range of weather conditions, including sub-zero temperatures, high heat, and prolonged exposure to intense sun.
- Due to excellent resilience, they require less maintenance than many other roofs.
Composite is one of the systems Adept Construction installs. Compare it with cedar shake and architectural shingle on our roofing systems page, or read our guide to composite roof cost per square foot.
Composite Roofing FAQs
A composite roof costs more per square than architectural asphalt shingle and less than natural slate — typically a third to a half of a slate replacement, with no framing reinforcement required. The price depends on the product line, the roof’s size and pitch, and the tear-off. Adept Construction provides a free written estimate; typical ranges are in our composite roof cost guide.
Most composite slate and shake products carry a 50-year limited warranty, and the material does not split, curl, rot or grow moss. In DuPage County that is roughly twice the service life of a cedar shake roof.
Yes. Composite shake is cast from real cedar, installs over the same deck after tear-off, and is the replacement Adept Construction recommends most often to Hinsdale, Lemont and Downers Grove homeowners with an aging cedar roof who want the look back without the maintenance.
Hinsdale and Oak Brook have architectural review for exterior materials on many homes; composite slate and shake are generally accepted where the original material was slate or cedar. Adept Construction can advise on a specific address.
Yes. Most composite products carry a Class 4 impact rating, the highest rating under the UL 2218 hail test, and some Illinois insurers offer a premium discount for it. Ask your carrier before choosing a product.
Yes. Adept Construction replaces cracked, displaced or wind-lifted composite tiles and repairs the flashing around them, matching the original product line where it is still made.
It depends on the municipality. Naperville requires a permit for slate-look and shake-look roofs; the Village of Downers Grove requires one for any re-roof; Hinsdale and Oak Brook require permits and, on many homes, architectural review. Adept Construction handles the permit and the review submission.
Yes. Adept Construction holds Illinois roofing contractor license No. 104.011123 from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and carries general liability and workers’ compensation insurance. Verify any Illinois roofer on the IDFPR roofing page.